The government manages the economy in a way that benefits all citizens.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the government’s policy is not to grant privileges to a limited group, but to manage the economy in a manner that can be used for the benefit of the people.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while attending the ceremony to award scholarships to children of the Northern Province, held on the 21st of December at the Nelum Piyasa Hall of the Iranamadu Army Camp in Kilinochchi, in appreciation of students who achieved outstanding results at the 2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination.
On this occasion, scholarships were awarded to 300 students who achieved excellent results at the 2024 Advanced Level Examination, representing the districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, and Vavuniya in the Northern Province.
Expressing further views, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated as follows:
Our government’s policy is not to provide privileges to a limited group. We manage the economy so that it can be used for the benefit of the people.
Due to the Ditwah cyclone, damage occurred in every district of the country. Essential infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and many roads were damaged. Even today, around fifty thousand people are unable to return to their homes.
The elderly population in the Northern region has experience of camp life, and we do not need to explain to you how difficult it is, as they lived in displacement camps for many years due to the war. However, our government has no intention of keeping people in such camps after this cyclone.
All damages caused by the cyclone and the disaster are being restored back to normalcy. Recently, we approved Rs. 500 billion for this purpose. There was no need to obtain loans or cut other benefits. Due to the economic management of the government and the President, funds were easily allocated.
The government is working to provide benefits to the people by strengthening the Treasury and managing funds properly.
The government is working on providing assistance to cleaning houses, constructing houses, developing infrastructure, as well as improving livelihoods. We have given special attention to education. The schools are reopened following the aim of restoring children’s daily activities back to normalcy. A school should not only be a place of learning, but also a safe and happy environment.
We faced a disaster situation while the Advanced Level examination was being conducted. At that time, I extend my gratitude to everyone who provided support to ensure the safety of students and the securing examination question papers and answer scripts.
From 2025 onwards, we are increasing allocations for education and strengthen the education system. Funds have been allocated in the 2026 Budget to resolve the residential accommodation issues faced by universities in Vavuniya and Kilinochchi. We are also allocating funds and taking necessary steps to develop the school system across the Northern Province as well as the entire country, and to enhance digital technology.
Recently, the Ministry of Education conducted a progress review for the year 2025. We cannot be satisfied with the progress in the Northern region. The funds allocated have not been utilized properly. We expect greater progress from the Northern Province. I remind District Coordination Committees to function with greater commitment.
We are taking steps to fill teacher vacancies in 2026. We are also working to fill officer vacancies. Strong cooperation from both the Ministry and the Province is required for the government’s new programme.
We acknowledge that Jaffna is a center of education. At the same time, education must also be developed in the districts of Vavuniya, Mannar, and Kilinochchi in the Northern Province. Every school is our school, and the children in those schools are our children. Therefore, it is essential to provide quality education to all children. When transferring teachers, steps should be taken to distribute them equally across all districts, and to act with an understanding that both individual development as well as collective development are placed at a important level.
Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne stated:
The President’s Fund has become a commonly used term among the people only from this year. Although it has been in operation in Sri Lanka for 44 years, its true purpose has been fulfilled only after the meeting held in January 2025 under the leadership of the President. At that meeting, it was decided to implement the activities of the President’s Fund at the Divisional Secretariat level, and this was implemented by February 2025.
During the past 11 months, 4,200 applications were received through Divisional Secretariats. From the Northern Province alone, 200 applications were received. In the past, only about fifty or sixty people from across the country applied for benefits from the President’s Fund.
This time, Rs. 4,899 million has been allocated from the President’s Fund for education, and Rs. 6,112 billion has been allocated this year for the people of the country.
The event was attended by Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ramalingam Chandrasekaran, Northern Province Governor Nagalingam Vaganayagam, Deputy Minister of Trade Upali Samarasingha, Members of Parliament Sri Bavanandarajah and IlanKumaran, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Provincial Council Secretary, District Secretary, other state officials, scholarship recipients, parents, and a large gathering of participants.
Prime Minister’s Media Division
